The US Navy is sending 30 ships stationed in Virginia out to sea to wait at anchor while the storm passes.

The latest NOAA update reads: “Florence is moving toward the west-northwest near 15 mph (24 km/h). A west-northwestward to northwestward motion with a slight increase in forward speed are expected during the next couple of days.

“On the forecast track, the center of Florence will move over the southwestern Atlantic Ocean between Bermuda and the Bahamas through Wednesday and approach the coast of North Carolina or South Carolina on Thursday.